PDP Governors Back Akpabio's Chairmanship Of Forum - Wamakko, Jibrin
SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, (THEWILL) - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees on Thursday debunked a newspaper report which suggested that northern state Governors elected under the platform of the party do not recognize Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State as the Chairman of the party's Governors’ forum.
In statement in Abuja, its secretary, Senator Walid Jibrin particularly frowned at the report, which claimed that the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko had during a visit to the state by a team of members of the Board led by its Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih declared the position of the State Governors.
"At no time before, during or after the meeting did Gov. Wamakko make such a statement as reported in a national daily.
"It is my view that had such a statement been made by the Governor or any other person, Chief Tony Anenih, as I know him, would have given an appropriate reply," he said.
Also debunking the news report published by local national daily, Thisday, the Sokoto State governor described it as fictitious and untrue.
According to a statement signed by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant (Media), Sani Umar, “the report is false in its entirety and a figment of the imagination of the writers which should be disregarded by responsible persons.
We believe that apart from being a hatchet job, it is intended to cause mischief and denigrate the person of Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, who is widely acknowledged as a perfect gentleman and a man of impeccable character.”
The statement noted that the report was part of a grand design to cause disaffection between Wamakko and Akpabio, saying: “To try to cause disaffection between him and his colleague, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom Godswill Akpabio, is to say the least, very uncharitable and disrespectful, knowing that the two gentlemen have enjoyed a good relationship between them.
“We wish to reaffirm for the avoidance of doubt, that the tissue of lies being bandied by these disgruntled people should be disregarded.
“Any attempt to cause friction or bad blood between the two governors would not succeed no matter what, because they both share great patriotism and faith in a greater Nigeria.”